ATC - Privatisering av lufttrafikktjenesten i USA ser ut til å bli skrinlagt - AIN

Shuster Signals End to ATC Privatization Battle

In a terse press release issued late yesterday, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pennsylvania) appeared to drop his once-strong push for privatization of the U.S. air traffic control (ATC) system. He admitted in the statement that the proposed reform of ATC in H.R.2997 “did not reach the obvious level of support needed to pass Congress,” and he will now work with his colleagues on a reauthorization bill “to provide long-term stability for the FAA.” “We had a golden opportunity to move beyond the status quo and accomplish positive, transformational change with this bill,” Shuster said. “Despite an unprecedented level of support for this legislation—from bipartisan lawmakers, industry, and conservative groups and labor groups alike—some of my own colleagues refused to support shrinking the federal government by 35,000 employees, cutting taxes, and stopping wasteful spending.” NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen sent a message to members last night: “From the statement, it appears that as a result of the outstanding work of NBAA's board, Associate Member Advisory Committee, Leadership Council, membership, and staff—as well as a chorus of opposition from a diverse, informed, and united coalition—the airlines' effort with regard to ATC privatization will not go forward as part of the FAA reauthorization process…Now, it is time to focus our full attention on a long-term FAA bill that ensures the U.S. has the world's best air transportation system for decades to come." Read Expanded Version